Yukon Private Beta Hits The Street

The company Tuesday dropped the so-called "private beta" of the next-generation SQL Server to some 500 customers and partners, sources close to the company confirmed. Another 1,500 copies are slated for release by the end of July.

At TechEd in early June, SQL Server executives had said the private beta might "make" that month and the status remained day-to-day late into June.

The next major milestone will be the first public beta, slated to take place in the first half of 2004, with the final product due in the second half, sources said.